Berliner Messe

1990 musical composition by Arvo Pärt

Mass ordinary
Alleluja
Veni Sancte Spiritus

LanguageLatinScoringSATB choir and organPremiereDate24 May 1990 (1990-05-24)LocationSt. Hedwig's Cathedral, Berlin

Berliner Messe (or Berlin Mass) is a mass setting by Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Commissioned for the 90th Katholikentag in Berlin in 1990,^[1] it was originally scored for SATB soloists and organ. It was first performed at St. Hedwig's Cathedral on 24 May 1990, the Feast of the Ascension,^[2] with Paul Hillier conducting the Theatre of Voices.^[1] Pärt later (1997) revised the piece for chorus and string orchestra. Pärt uses his tintinnabuli technique throughout, with movements taking many forms within that style—flowing from quietly reverent duets between parts to full chorus proclamations of faith.^[3]

Structure

The work consists of five movements of the Mass ordinary and three movements intended for the celebration of Pentecost:

Kyrie
Gloria
Erster Alleluiavers (First Alleluia)
Zweiter Alleluiavers (Second Alleluia)
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Credo
Sanctus
Agnus Dei

The fact that the mass was originally written for Pentecost is evidenced by the presence of the two Alleluias and the Veni Sancte Spiritus.^[4] However, Pärt has also set two Alleluia verses to permit the work to be used at Christmas. All five of these movements are marked "ad lib." in the score.^[1]

Recordings

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, dir. Tõnu Kaljuste (choir/string orchestra, 1993)^[5]
Oregon Repertory Singers, dir. Gilbert Seeley (choir/organ, 1993)^[6]
Polyphony, dir. Stephen Layton (choir/organ, 1998)^[7]
Theatre of Voices, dir. Paul Hillier (soloists/organ, 2000)^[8]
Elora Festival Singers, dir. Noel Edison (choir/string orchestra, 2004)^[9]
Moscow Virtuosi, dir. Vladimir Spivakov (choir/string orchestra, 2004)^[10]
Byrd Ensemble, dir. Markdavin Obenza (choir/organ, 2013)^[11]

The Kyrie was featured in the film, Avengers: Age of Ultron.^[12]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Berliner Messe Archived 2017-02-02 at the Wayback Machine Universal Edition, accessed September 14, 2014
^ Ascension of Jesus 1990
^ Jeremy Grimshaw. "Berliner Messe, for SATB chorus or soloists & organ", AllMusic.com, (accessed September 14, 2014) [1].
^ Paul Hillier. "Arvo Pärt", Grove Music Online, ed. L. Macy (accessed November 22, 2006), (subscription access).
^ "Arvo Pärt: Te Deum; Silovans Song; Magnificat; Berliner Messe - Tõnu Kaljuste | Release Info". AllMusic.
^ "Arvo Pärt / Lou Harrison - Oregon Repertory Singers / Gilbert Seeley – Berliner Messe / Mass To St. Anthony (1993, CD) - Discogs". Discogs.
^ "Arvo Pärt: Berliner Mass; Magnificat; Seven Magnificat Antiphons; de Profundis; the Beatitudes - Polyphony, Stephen Layton | Release Info". AllMusic.
^ "Pärt: I am the True Vine - Paul Hillier, Pro Arte Singers, Theatre of Voices | Release Info". AllMusic.
^ "Elora Festival Singers, Noel Edison: Arvo Part Berliner Messe album review @ All About Jazz". 15 November 2004.
^ "Classical Net - Pärt - Discography".
^ "Arvo Pärt, The Byrd Ensemble – Arvo Pärt (2013, CD) - Discogs". Discogs.
^ "The Avengers: Age of Ultron – Song Credits". Soundtrack.Net. Archived from the original on 12 June 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2015.